JP2013025245A - Billing management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a billing management system capable of managing billing conditions corresponding to the date and time in a lump.SOLUTION: A billing management system 1 includes: an image formation device 26 for forming an image; receiving means for receiving an instruction for forming an image by the image formation device 26 from a user; a management device 12 for managing the date and time when the receiving means receives an instruction and a billing condition in association with each other; and a billing information transmission device 24 for referring to the billing conditions managed by the management device 12 and transmitting billing information according to a billing condition corresponding to the date and time when the receiving means receives the instruction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a charge management system.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 uses a charge management unit as a trigger when the user authentication unit approves that the access user is a valid user within a predetermined time from when the charge information is read by the IC card reader / writer. Corresponds to the job execution status based on the job execution status acquired by the job execution status acquisition unit and the charging information read from the contactless IC card, and is used by the user. An image forming apparatus that performs billing management according to billing information that matches an aspect is disclosed.

JP 2010-108089 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a billing management system that can collectively manage billing conditions according to date and time.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image, a receiving unit that receives an instruction to form an image from a user using the image forming apparatus, a date and time when the receiving unit receives the instruction, and a charging condition. A charging condition management apparatus that manages the charging conditions in association with each other, and charging information transmission means that refers to the charging conditions managed by the charging condition management apparatus and that transmits charging information according to the charging conditions corresponding to the date and time when the receiving means receives the instruction; , A billing management system.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing management system according to the first aspect, wherein two or more image forming apparatuses and receiving units are provided for one billing condition management apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing management system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the billing condition management device manages date and billing conditions in association with each image forming apparatus.

  The present invention according to claim 4 is the charge management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the charge condition managed by the charge condition management apparatus includes a charge condition and a charge condition.

  The present invention according to claim 5 is the charge management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the charge conditions managed by the charge condition management apparatus include conditions having different unit prices.

  The present invention according to claim 6 is the charge management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is a copying apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, billing conditions according to the date and time can be managed collectively.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to manage billing conditions according to the date and time more effectively as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to the first or second aspect, the accounting conditions can be managed for each image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of the present invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, billing conditions according to the date and time are more effectively compared to the case without this configuration. Can be managed collectively.

  According to the present invention according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, charging conditions according to the date and time are more effectively compared to the case without this configuration. Can be managed collectively.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the connection between the image forming apparatus and the network can be omitted.

1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a charge management system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the accounting information transmission apparatus with which one Embodiment of this invention is applied. It is an illustration of the accounting conditions corresponding to the date and time managed by the management apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a charging form managed by the management apparatus, and FIG. 4B illustrates an example of identification information managed by the management apparatus. FIG. 5A is a functional configuration of a reading apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5B is an example of information stored in an information recording medium. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the charge management system in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the structure of the charge management system which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a functional structure of the reading apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the charge management system which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

[First embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a configuration of a charge management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The charge management system 1 uses a common device at various times and at various times in various places on a site managed by the same company, such as a university. Used in situations where

  The accounting management system 1 includes a plurality of terminal devices 10 operated by a user, a management device 12, a plurality of accounting function-added image forming devices 14a, 14b, and 14c, and a totaling device 16, such as a LAN or a WAN. It is configured by being connected via the network 18.

Each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses 10 and the plurality of charging function-added image forming apparatuses 14a to 14c is disposed, for example, in a different place or facility.
Since the image forming apparatuses with charging function 14a to 14c have the same configuration, the image forming apparatus with charging function 14 may be collectively referred to below. The same applies to each device constituting the image forming apparatus 14 with a charging function.
The image forming apparatus with charging function 14 is provided more than the management apparatus 12, and in the present embodiment, a plurality of image forming apparatuses with charging function 14 are provided for one management apparatus 12. ing.

  The terminal device 10 requests the contents of the electronic document to be printed on a recording medium such as paper in response to a user (user) request. As the terminal device 10, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or the like is used.

Specifically, the terminal device 10 notifies the management device 12 of print information in response to a user request.
The print information includes document specifying information and printing conditions.
The document specifying information includes, for example, the identification information of the user who has requested printing, the document name, the date and time of requesting printing, and the like. The identification information indicates information for uniquely identifying the user.
The printing conditions include conditions such as the number of copies to be printed, the paper size, and the printing mode (color printing or monochrome printing).

The management device 12 manages the date and time and the accounting conditions in association with each other. Note that the management apparatus 12 may set the date and the charging condition in association with each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 26.
In addition, the management device 12 manages user identification information and electronic document contents (information regarding contents to be printed such as documents and images) that the user requests to print.
For example, a general-purpose server computer is used as the management device 12.

The image forming apparatus with a charging function 14 authenticates the user and charges the user under a charging condition according to the printing date and forms an image.
The image forming apparatus with charging function 14 includes a reading device 22, a charging information sending device 24, and an image forming device 26.

The reading device 22 reads the identification information and the frequency information from an information recording medium 28 such as an IC card (see FIG. 5B) that records the identification information and the frequency information, and sends the read identification information to the billing information transmission device 24. To transmit. The reading device 22 is connected to the billing information sending device 24 by USB, for example.
The frequency information is information used for use of the image forming apparatus 26, for example, expressed as points.

  Further, the reading device 22 rewrites the frequency information of the information recording medium 28 in accordance with the accounting condition according to the date and time.

  The frequency information recorded on the information recording medium 28 may be added (charged) by each user using a predetermined facility or the like, or a predetermined amount inputted in advance may be used up. May be.

The charging information sending device 24 refers to the management device 12 and notifies the reading device 22 of the charging conditions corresponding to the date and time. In addition, the billing information sending device 24 transmits to the reading device 22 the print information held by the management device 12 corresponding to the identification information.
For example, a PC (Personal Computer) is used as the billing information transmitting device 24.

When receiving an instruction for printing from the reading device 22, the image forming device 26 receives the document information content from the management device 12 and forms the content as an image on a recording medium such as paper.
As the image forming apparatus 26, for example, an electrophotographic system or the like is used.

  The tabulating device 16 tabulates the print information printed in each of the image forming devices 26 of the plurality of charging function-added image forming devices 14. The overall cost for using the plurality of image forming apparatuses 26 is calculated based on the print information collected by the totaling apparatus 16.

  The aggregation device 16 may manage the identification information and the print information in the entire image forming device 26 in association with each other. In this case, the totaling device 16 grasps, for example, the number of sheets printed in color, the paper size used, and the like for each user.

Next, the hardware configuration of the billing information sending device 24 will be described.
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the billing information sending device 24.

  The billing information sending device 24 includes a control device 34 including a CPU 30 and a memory 32, a recording device 36 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and a user interface including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse ( (UI) device 38, a communication device 40 that transmits / receives information to / from the management device 12 and the like via the network 18, and a connection unit 42 that connects to the reading device 22 and transmits information.

  In the billing information sending device 24, a predetermined billing management program is stored in the recording device 36 via the information transmission medium 44 such as the communication device 40 or a compact disc (CD), loaded into the memory 32, and the control device 34. It is executed on an operating system (not shown) that operates.

The hardware configurations of the terminal device 10, the management device 12, and the aggregation device 16 are the same as the configuration of the billing information transmission device 24 except for the connection unit 42.
The communication device 40 in the terminal device 10 transmits / receives information to / from the management device 12 via the network 18.
The communication device 40 in the management device 12 transmits / receives information to / from the terminal device 10, the charging information transmission device 24, the image forming device 26, and the like via the network 18.
The communication device 40 in the counting device 16 transmits / receives information to / from the billing information transmission device 24 via the network 18.

Next, accounting conditions and identification information managed by the management apparatus 12 will be described.
FIG. 3 illustrates the accounting conditions corresponding to the date and time managed by the management device 12.
FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a billing form managed by the management device 12, and FIG. 4B illustrates an example of identification information managed by the management device 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management device 12 manages various billing forms in association with the date and time.
As shown in FIG. 4A, for each billing form, values (frequency information to be consumed) used for image formation are set according to, for example, the paper size and printing mode (color printing or monochrome printing, etc.). Yes.

In the present embodiment, different settings are made for the respective image forming apparatuses 26a to 26c (individual information).
For example, the unit price is set higher for the image forming apparatus 26 having higher performance than the other image forming apparatuses 26, such as printing with high image quality. Accordingly, a billing form is set according to the situation.

For the image forming apparatus 26a, the charge form F is applied from 8:00 to 17:00 throughout the year, and the charge form A is applied from 17:00 to 8:00 (see FIG. 3A).
For this reason, the frequency information is not consumed throughout the year for the user of the image forming apparatus 26a between 8 o'clock and 17 o'clock, and is used free of charge. On the other hand, for users from 17:00 to 8:00, frequency information is consumed according to the paper size and the like, and is used for a fee.

For the image forming apparatus 26b, the charge form F is applied from 7:00 to 20:00 and the charge form B is applied from 20:00 to 7:00 throughout the year (see FIG. 3B).
For this reason, the frequency information is not consumed throughout the year for the user of the image forming apparatus 26b between 7 o'clock and 20 o'clock. On the other hand, for users from 20:00 to 7:00, frequency information is consumed according to the paper size and the like, and is used for a fee.

Different charging forms are set for the image forming apparatus 26c depending on the date (see FIG. 3C). Specifically, in February to June and August to December, the billing form A is applied from 8:00 to 17:00, and the billing form B is applied from 17:00 to 8:00. In January and July, the accounting form F is applied throughout the day.
For this reason, in February to June and August to December, the frequency information is consumed at different unit prices depending on the time used by the user of the image forming apparatus 26c, and is used for a fee. On the other hand, in January and July, the frequency information is not consumed all day by the user of the image forming apparatus 26c and is used free of charge.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the management device 12 manages user identification information, and thereby the user of the image forming device 26 is authenticated.

When the charge management system 1 is used in a university, for example, the charge form F is applied during class time, and the charge form A is applied at other times. Is done.
In this case, the accounting conditions according to the date and time are managed without changing the settings for each of the plurality of reading devices 22, the image forming devices 26, etc., or the information recording medium 28 owned by the user.

  The date and time for changing the charging status is appropriately set according to the day of the week, the event (testing organization, etc.), the place where the image forming apparatus 26 is installed, and the like.

Next, the functional configuration of the reading device 22 will be described.
FIG. 5A shows the functional configuration of the reading device 22.
FIG. 5B illustrates information stored in the information recording medium 28.

  The reading device 22 includes a reading unit 60, a transmission unit 62, a calculation unit 64, an image formation instruction unit 66, a writing unit 68, and a display unit 70.

  The reading unit 60 reads identification information and frequency information (see FIG. 5B) from the information recording medium 28. The reading unit 60 transfers the read identification information to the transmission unit 62 and transfers the frequency information to the calculation unit 64.

  The transmission unit 62 transmits the identification information transferred from the reading unit 60 to the billing information sending device 24. In addition, the transmission unit 62 receives the accounting conditions and print information corresponding to the date and time from the accounting information transmission device 24, and transfers them to the calculation unit 64.

The calculation unit 64 receives frequency information from the reading unit 60 and charging conditions and print information from the transmission unit 62. The calculation unit 64 calculates a value (charge amount) charged for the printing based on the charge condition and the print condition, and calculates new frequency information (balance) from the charge amount and the received frequency information. .
The calculation unit 64 transfers the calculation result to the writing unit 68 and the display unit 70.

  Further, the calculation unit 64 transfers the print information to the image formation instruction unit 66 when the calculation result is valid. The case where the calculation result is valid indicates, for example, a state in which the frequency information read from the information recording medium 28 (the frequency information recorded on the information recording medium 28) is equal to or more than the charge amount.

  When receiving the print information from the calculation unit 64, the image formation instructing unit 66 instructs the image forming apparatus 26 to form an image accordingly.

  The writing unit 68 writes the calculation result received from the calculation unit 64 in the information recording medium 28 as new frequency information.

  The display unit 70 displays the charge amount and the new frequency information based on the calculation result received from the calculation unit 64. When the user refers to the display unit 70, the billing amount and balance required for the printing are confirmed.

Next, a charging operation by the charging management system 1 will be described.
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the charging operation (S10) by the charging management system 1.
Hereinafter, an operation relating to the image forming apparatus with charging function 14a (condition of FIG. 3A) will be described as an example.

In step 102 (S102), when the predetermined time 8:00 is reached, the management apparatus 12 notifies the charging information sending apparatus 24a of the charging form F as the charging condition.
As a result, the billing information sending device 24a instructs a future user of the image forming device 26a to apply the billing form F to the reading device 22a.

  In step 104 (S104), the terminal device 10 transmits print information to the management device 12 in response to a user request, and the management device 12 holds this print information.

In step 106 (S106), the reading device 22a of the charging function-added image forming apparatus 14a among the plurality of charging function-added image forming apparatuses 14 reads the identification information from the information recording medium 28 possessed by the user, and sends the charging information. Transmit to device 24a.
For example, the identification information is read by going to the image forming apparatus with charging function 14a arranged at a place desired by the user and holding the information recording medium 28 over the reading apparatus 22a.

  In step 108 (S108), the billing information sending device 24a sends the identification information transmitted from the reading device 22a to the management device 12.

  In step 110 (S110), the management apparatus 12 refers to the information to be managed, and transmits the print information that corresponds to the identification information to the charging information transmission apparatus 24a.

Here, when the identification information does not match the recorded information (for example, when there is no corresponding identification information), the management apparatus 12 notifies the charging information transmission apparatus 24a to that effect.
In this case, assuming that the identification information is not authenticated, image formation by the image forming apparatus 26a is not permitted for the user. At this time, the fact may be displayed on the display unit 70 of the reading device 22a or the display unit of the image forming apparatus 26.

  In step 112 (S112), the billing information sending device 24a transmits the billing conditions (billing mode F in this example) and print information corresponding to the date and time to the reading device 22a.

In step 114 (S114), the reading device 22a calculates new frequency information based on the charging condition and the printing condition, and transmits the printing information to the image forming apparatus 26a to instruct printing.
Here, when the balance recorded on the information recording medium 28 is insufficient for the charge amount, the reading device 22a does not transfer the print information to the image forming device 26a.
In this case, printing by the image forming apparatus 26a is not permitted for the user. At this time, a message indicating that the balance is insufficient may be displayed on the display unit 70 of the reading device 22a.

  In step 116 (S116), the image forming apparatus 26a requests the management apparatus 12 for the electronic document content corresponding to the print information.

In step 118 (S118), the management apparatus 12 transmits the electronic document content to the image forming apparatus 26a that has requested the electronic document content.
Upon receiving the electronic document content, the image forming apparatus 26a prints the content on a recording medium such as paper. At this time, the image forming apparatus 26a may notify the billing information transmitting apparatus 24a via the reading apparatus 22a that printing has been completed.
In this way, the image forming apparatus 26a performs printing according to the user's request.

In step 120 (S120), when the predetermined time is 17:00, the management apparatus 12 notifies the charging information sending apparatus 24a of the charging form A as a charging condition.
As a result, the billing information sending device 24a instructs the future user of the image forming device 26a to apply the billing form A to the reading device 22a.
In this way, the charging condition charged by the reading device 22a is changed according to the date and time.

In step 122 (S122), the billing information sending device 24a sends the printing information actually printed by the image forming device 26a to the counting device 16.
The billing information sending device 24a may send print information, for example, for one day to the counting device 16 at a predetermined time.

  The date and time when the charging condition is determined is set as appropriate, for example, when the reading device 22 reads the identification information from the information recording medium 28 or when the user requests printing via the terminal device 10.

  Further, the management device 12 may manage the accounting conditions corresponding to the date and time according to each user in association with the identification information.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the configuration of the charge management system 100 according to the second embodiment.

  The charging management system 100 is configured by connecting a management device 12, a plurality of image forming devices with charging functions 14a, 14b, 14c, and a totaling device 16 via a network 18 such as a LAN or a WAN. The

  In the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus with charging function 14 includes a reading apparatus 102, a charging information sending apparatus 24, and a copying apparatus 104.

The copying apparatus 104 is for copying a sheet or the like placed on the copying apparatus 104 by a user (for example, a copying machine), and does not require receiving the contents of document information from the management apparatus 12. For this reason, in this embodiment, the connection between the copying apparatus 104 itself and the network 18 is omitted.
Note that the copying apparatus 104 may be connected to the network 18.

The copying apparatus 104 receives a copying condition from the user, makes a copy accordingly, and transmits the copying condition to the reading apparatus 102.
The copy conditions include, for example, conditions such as the number of copies to be printed, the paper size, and the print mode (color printing or monochrome printing).

Next, a functional configuration of the reading apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the reading apparatus 102.

  The reading device 22 includes a reading unit 120, a transmission unit 122, a calculation unit 124, a copy transmission / reception unit 126, a writing unit 128, and a display unit 130.

  The reading unit 120 reads identification information and frequency information (see FIG. 5B) from the information recording medium 28. The reading unit 120 transfers the read identification information to the transmission unit 122 and transfers the frequency information to the calculation unit 124.

  The transmission unit 122 transmits the identification information transferred from the reading unit 120 to the billing information sending device 24. Further, the transmission unit 122 receives the accounting condition corresponding to the date and time from the accounting information sending device 24 and transfers it to the calculation unit 124.

The calculation unit 124 receives the frequency information from the reading unit 120, the charging condition from the transmission unit 122,
The copy conditions are received from the copy transmitting / receiving unit 126. The calculation unit 124 calculates a value (charge amount) charged for the copy based on the charge condition and the copy condition, and calculates new frequency information (balance) from the charge amount and the received frequency information. .
The calculation unit 124 transfers the calculation result to the writing unit 128 and the display unit 130.

  If the calculation result is valid, the calculation unit 124 notifies the copy transmission / reception unit 126 to that effect.

  When the copying transmission / reception unit 126 is notified of copying permission from the calculation unit 124, the copying transmitting / receiving unit 126 notifies the copying apparatus 104 of copying permission.

  The writing unit 128 writes the calculation result received from the calculation unit 124 into the information recording medium 28 as new frequency information.

  The display unit 130 displays the billing amount and the new frequency information based on the calculation result received from the calculation unit 124, and indicates the new frequency information to the user.

Next, a charging operation by the charging management system 100 will be described.
FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the charging operation (S20) by the charging management system 100.
Hereinafter, an operation relating to the image forming apparatus with charging function 14a (condition of FIG. 3A) will be described as an example.

In step 202 (S202), when the predetermined time is 8:00, the management apparatus 12 notifies the charging information sending apparatus 24a of the charging form F as the charging condition.
As a result, the billing information sending device 24a instructs a future user of the copying device 104a to apply the billing form F to the reading device 102a.

In step 204 (S204), the reading device 22a of the charging function-equipped image forming apparatus 14a among the plurality of charging function-added image forming apparatuses 14 reads the identification information from the information recording medium 28 possessed by the user, and sends the charging information. Transmit to device 24a.
For example, the identification information is read by going to the image forming apparatus 14a with a charging function arranged at a location desired by the user and holding the information recording medium 28 over the reading apparatus 102a.

  In step 206 (S206), the billing information sending device 24 sends the identification information transmitted from the reading device 102a to the management device 12.

In step 208 (S208), the management apparatus 12 authenticates the identification information with reference to the information to be managed, and notifies the authentication result.
Here, when the identification information does not match the recorded information (for example, when there is no corresponding identification information), the management apparatus 12 notifies the charging information transmission apparatus 24a to that effect. In this case, assuming that the identification number is not authenticated, copying by the copying apparatus 104a is not permitted for the user.

  In step 210 (S210), the billing information sending device 24a transmits the billing condition (billing mode F in this example) corresponding to the date and time to the reading device 102.

  In step 212 (S212), the copying apparatus 104a accepts copying conditions from the user.

  In step 214 (S214), the copying apparatus 104a transmits the copying conditions received from the user to the reading apparatus 102a.

In step 216 (S216), the reading apparatus 102a calculates new frequency information based on the charging condition and the copying condition, and notifies the copying apparatus 102a of permission to copy.
Here, the reading device 102a does not notify the copying device 104a of the permission of copying when the balance recorded in the information recording medium 28 is insufficient for the charge amount. In this case, copying by the copying apparatus 104a is not permitted for the user.

When the copying apparatus 102a is notified of copying permission, the copying apparatus 102a performs copying according to the copying conditions.
In this way, the copying apparatus 102a performs copying according to the user's request.

In step 218 (S218), when the predetermined time is 17:00, the management apparatus 12 notifies the charging information sending apparatus 24a of the charging form A as a charging condition.
As a result, the billing information sending device 24a instructs a future user of the copying device 104a to apply the billing form A to the reading device 102a.

  In step 220 (S220), the billing information sending device 24a sends the copying conditions actually copied by the copying device 102a to the counting device 16 in association with the identification information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Charge management system 10 Terminal device 12 Management device 14 Image forming device with charging function 16 Totaling device 18 Network 22 Reading device 24 Charging information sending device 26 Image forming device 28 Information recording medium 60 Reading unit 62 Transmission unit 64 Calculation unit 66 Image formation Instruction unit 68 Writing unit 70 Display unit 100 Billing management system 104 Copying apparatus

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction to form an image from the user by the image forming apparatus;
A charging condition management device that manages the date and time when the receiving unit receives the instruction and the charging condition in association with each other;
A billing information sending means for sending billing information according to a billing condition corresponding to a date and time when the accepting means accepts an instruction with reference to a billing condition managed by the billing condition management device;
A billing management system.   2. The accounting management system according to claim 1, wherein two or more image forming apparatuses and receiving units are provided for each accounting condition management apparatus.   The charging management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the charging condition management device manages date and charging conditions in association with each image forming apparatus.   The charge management system according to claim 1, wherein the charge condition managed by the charge condition management apparatus includes a charge condition and a charge condition.   5. The charging management system according to claim 1, wherein the charging conditions managed by the charging condition management device include conditions with different unit prices.   6. The charge management system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a copying apparatus.

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